Folding umbrella.



PATENTED MAY 19, '1908.

G. STONE. E'GLDING UMBRELLA.

APPLICATION 1'1LEDAUG.13, 19o?` A WNESSES FFICE.

CARSON STONE, OF BATTLE GREEK, IOWA.

FOLDING UMBRELLA.

No. scenes.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 19, 1908.

Application led. August 13, 19137. Serial No. 358,281.

To all whom 'it muy concern:

Be it known that I, CARSON STONE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Battle Creek, in the county of Ida and State of lowa, have invented a new and Improved Folding Umbrella, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description` rihis invention relates to a type of umbrella that is adapted for shortening and close folding, so as to enable the convenient packing or carrying of the same.-`

The purpose of my invention is to provide novel details of construction for an umbrella of the type indicated, which will facilitate the folding of the ribs, will hold them secured when extended, will reliably hold the frame in opened adjustment, afford three telescoping sections for the umbrella frame stick, and afford means for releasably holding these stick sections extended or telescopically contracted.

The invention consists in th'e novel construction and combination of parts, as is hereinafter described, and dened in the appended claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of' this specication, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure l is a partly sectionalside view of an umbrella frame, broken away and shortened, details of the invention being shown in the sectional stick as adjusted for holding a` rib and stretcher rod elevated; Fig. 2 is a partly sectional broken side view ofan umbrella frame showing novel details in folded adjustment Fig. 3 is a side view of a portion of a rib at the joint between its foldable sections, said sections appearing extended, and an end portion of a stretcher rod hinged by one end on a section of the rib Fig` 4- is a reversed plan view of detailsshown in Fig. 3,'F1g.`5 1s a transverse sectional view substantially on the line 5-5 in Fig. 3, and

Fig.A e is a sectionaleide view of a runner sleeve which is slidable on the umbrella stick.

The stick that su ports other structural details of the umbrel a, consists-of three sections 6, 7, and 8. The lower section 6, having a preferred' style of handle 6a thereon, receives the intermediate section 7 that slidably fits therein, and in ltlie'section 7 the upper stick section 8 is neatly but slidably-itted. rlhe stick sections are formed of tubular metal having such diameters and thickness in their walls as will affordV the strength and rigidityY necessary for resisting bendable strains, and are so relatively proportioned as to length that they will afford a convenient stick when they are extended Afor service.

A notched ring c is secured upon the up er section S near its upper extremity, the radial notches or slots c therein receiving the u per ends of the frame ribs, that are' pivoted therein in the usual manner. The frame ribs are of similar construction, and'each consists of two parts 9, 9, having nearly equal length, The. upper rib member 9 is provided with a hinge joint leaf b that is in the form of. an open Ueshaped tube, one end thereof embracing and being rigidly secured upon the rib member 9 near its normally lower end, l

the lextreme end of the rib 9 bein@ flattened and projecting beyond the end of the joint leaf b forming a latch limb b', this detail apearing plainly in Figs. 3 and 4. This latch imb b may however be formed loy-l extending the lower end of the joint leaf l), and lattening -the same. The corres onding 'lower member 9"1L of each two art rib, is furnished with a hollow mating inge leaf b2 that is rigidly secured upon the adjacent end portion Kof the member 9Et .and is pivoted at its up er end as at b3 u on thehine leaf l), a ovethe latch lim t', thev si e members of the leaf b at the en d portion embracing the side members of the leaf b2, Where they are hinged together, as best shown in Figs. 4 and 5, and a clip band b* that em.

braces the hollow hinge leaf b. is clamped thereon by the pivot b3 and strengthens the hinge joint against torsional strains. Upon the lower rib member l near the hinge 'oint b? an essentially U-shaped resilient c11p and or clasp b5 is formedor secured on the hinge' leaf b2, and between the adjacent end portions or jawsl of said resilient clasp that ap` proach each other, the latch limb b willenter and be removably clam ed, when thel rib members' 9, 9a are extenddfor support of a suitable fibrous cover.

As shown in the drawing the rib members are of the usual U-shaped or channeled form, and the jaws of the clasp'extend at the chan- .neled side of the rib member, sojthat the flattened end of the latch limb which .overlaps the end of the rib member carry'mg theclasp can pass between the jaws of t eclasp and engage the channel of said rib member.

It will be seen that the clamped engagedistance from the pivot b3, co-act's with tht 11'0 -ment of the limb bf by the clip band b, at a clip hand o to stiien the connection between vprojected so as to form ears, and thus permit the stretcher rods to fold toward and near corresponding upper rio sections 9, while the lower 4ril) sections 9 are adapted' for receiving folded adjustmentclose to' mating rib sections 9, as represented in Fig. 2.

Upon the upper stick section. 8, a runner sleeve il is slidahly mounted, having radial ears formed on its upper end, whereou the upper ends oi the stretcher rods 'l0 are respectively pivlbfqd,l as at c in Figs. l and 2, arid the bore ci said sleeve is of a diameter that permits it to slide down on the section 7 when this is desired.

To adapt the tubular sections 6, 7, 8 of the three-part stielfor a slidable engagement one within the other, and to reduce the friction to a minimum, the interior diameters of the sections 6 and 7 are increased a proper degree from their lower ends to near their per ends, leaving collars d and c intact at their upper and lower end sections respectively, a collar e heing formed on the lower end of the section said ycollars hearing loosely upon the exterior surface oi' the tuhu lar section 8, the interior ,surface of the section '.7 and the interior surface of the section 6 respectively, and having a length that prevents wabl'iling of the sticlr sections upon each other.

ln the tubular wall of the upper stick section 8, at a suitable distance from the notched flange or ring a, two opposite longitudinal slots'g, g are lorrned, and similar but shorter slots k, hare formed inthe runner sleeve il. In the stick section 8 two latch dogs i, 'i are located, these dogs each consisting of aresilient metallic strip, having a hoch i formed on its upper end, said hooks being positioned o posite the slots g, near the upper ends t iereoii and normal y projecting through said slots. Below the hooks ih and equally spaced upon the latch dogs, two similar lugs i? are formed, said lugs projecting respectively through the slots g when free lto do so and, as shown, said ugs slope inwardly and downwardly on their side edges. p The lower portions oi. the latch dogs i, i, that lap upon each other, are reduced in thickness and curved laterally in opposite directions, forming bow springs i?. There is a lateral toe i4 formed on each bow spring i3, whichlhas con-k tact.with the inner' surface of the stick section 8, the free lower ends of said springs also impinging `upon the tuhcllai` wall spccied ln two op osite slots g in the stick section .8 helowthe il", two ears "5 project that Vears t" formed respectively on the latch dogsi ahovc the toes c, the lugs i5 having their edges conveXed. -lt will he noted that the contact of each spring i3 at two points on the interior sidewall of the sticlt'section 8, will cause the hooks c" and lugs 'i2 to project through the slots g, g and hy pressure applied upon the may he retracted or drawn inwardly through said slots.

From .the construction and arrangement of parts` as herelnbeiore described, it willl he evidentI that if the rih sections Gf 915,. have heen folded into the positions shown inFig.

2, the runner sleeve-1.1' will he positioned above the hooks fi, this adjustment being permitted. ii the ears t5 are pressedinward, either manually or by an inorced contact of the upper edge oi the runner sleeve upon the convexed edges of said ears. N ow if the rih sections Qa are rocked into alineinent with their mating sections 9, and the latter are simultaneously elevated so as to stretch a cover on the extended ribs (not shown), the sleeve l1 will loe slid down, and when the stretcher rods l0 are radially disposed on the runner sleeve, as shown for one rod in Fig. l, the hooks i will automatically project out through the slots g, g, above the upper edge of the runner sleeve 1l, and. the lugs c2 will likewise project through. the slots 71 L, in the runner sleeve, thus locking the latter in a stationary position and holding the uxnhrella fra-'nie in an expanded condition.

Two 'longitudinal slots lt are fornied oppositely in the upper section 8 of the stick, a distance below the slots g', these slots receiving widened lower ends m of two crossed and lapped spring dogs fm. The construction of the dogs lm is somewhat siniilarpto that ai'liorded the resilient lower portions of the latchvdogs i, they having arcuate forni, and each above their crossing point having a toe m2 projected which impinges'upon the inner surface ofthe stick sectionS. The spring dogs m at their diverged up er ends m3, impinge upon the tuhularwal of the sticklv member 8, and the resilience of the arcuate rnenihers on the dogs m serves to automatically project their lower ends m outward. The slots lc are located near the lower end of the stick section 8, and the spring dogs m are positioned so that the widened lower ends fm or ears thereof which are normally projected out of these slots, will have contact with the upper'end of the middle section 7 of the stiel; when the'latter is fully extended for service, as is vindicated in Fig. 1.-

A longitudinal slot n is formed in" the lower section -6 of the three part stick near its upper end, which receives the hook nose o on a latch hook o, this hook nose passing 'into a' lateral slot pin the lower end of the middle section? of the stick, and as represented in'Fig.V l the engagement of the ears mtwith the-upper end of the middle stick ceases` 3 ysection .7?, :and thehooked engagement. ofthe g'hookfnose fo. within the slot p', Awill lock the r stick sections 6 and 7 .upon eachother 1in "1 extendedcondition. Itv will b e seen `that the 'lower sections. 6 and 7 of the 'stick may be .extended-at' will, and either before or aftersaid extensin the umbrella ribs and stretcher rods-may be Aelevated so as to'Y stretch va fibrous cover ofthe usual style upon the 1o ribs, for1service.

Whenqtm umbrella having the improve- -inents istbe folded, assuming that its frame Ahais beenelevated, the .ears 'Faire pressed-upon bypllshing the middlesec'tion and attachedV 15 lower-section upward, the ea'rs' ;'m, having been Vlmanually" fnjess'ed .inward to permit .such-a sli" `movement of the stick .sec-

'tions specie 'Ilfhe .upper end of the .mid-

die:election 7, `:when impinged upon the 'con-- v .vexededgesof'theears c5 will press them ment with vthe Vlatch bs/b Tcnthe upper' scctionsh'Q. @The -noseo 'on the latchho .35 ma enter` a' perforation `rin thewall. of the dle section 7Jwhen the frame of the umbrellaandv sections ,ofv vthe s ,ti'ckare coinlately folded, which vhold thelatter vlfi'om vextension'until Athe hook; nose oris 40. released byv an outward pull thereon.

It will be obvious that when the umbrella. has been folded, as represented.in` Fig. 2, the vstcksections 6 and 7-.may together be slid ward until the section 7 'passes' into and .u 45' t ough therunner sleeve 11, which will shorten the stick so -that the umbrella may be .readily packed ina suit-case or smal trunk..flf. the stick sections are extended 'and it desired to fold the umbrella frame while theyare so adjusted, :this can be readily effected by pressing the' ears 'i5 inward, thus releasing the runner sleeve 1l from itslocked attachment upon the s :tick section S, whereupon the sleeve may be slid down over 1.5.-5 said stickfsection andA also ovler the middle sticksectionfar enough -to'close the umbrelIa-frame and fold the cover thereon, this ad'ustmentjbeing indicatedii Fig. 6.2 l

ljlavinglthus described Iny invention, I

Pate' r' 'brella stickfoi'med in, telescoping sections,

and, q runner sleeve slide-ble on two of said 65."' segftiunsv .of a spring latch dog'inthxe upper'l i claimf'as new and desireto securepby Letters 'the sbs,

4'section having lateral spacedhprojections on its upper portion :that engage thel runner sleeve and hold it stationary on saidupper section, the said dog being reduced in thickness at'its lower portion, and curved-later- 10.- ally forming a bow spring, alateral toe on each bow spring having contact with the inner surface of said upper section of the stick, the free lower end of said spring also engag' ing the inner surface of the'stick, andan ear '75 i `on the latch dog above the said toe and. projecting through a'slotin 'said upper stick sec- 2. The-combination with a tubular' um' brella stick formed in three telescoping sec- 80 tions, and a runner sleeve slidable on the upper and middle sections, of a spring latchdo in the upper section having lateral space projections Istits upper portion that Workin slots said stick section`-` for engagement with the sleeve at twopoints, andan 'ear o n said latchdog projecting through. a slot in the section for depressing the spring dog1 and thus releasing the runner sleeve, the freej oWer end of said'spi'ing latch dogengagin'g theinner 90 surface of said upper section.

'3. The comb' ation. with atuhular .brella stick formed in three telescoping sections, and a l o ngitiidinally-slotted runner sleeve slidable en the up er and 'middle s ec 95 tions thereof, of aspring atch dog located in the upper section of the stick, having alateral hook on its upper end, a lug spaced from the hook,and an ear below the lug, the hook erigaging the'upper end of the runner sleeve, 100

vthe lu'gentering the slot therein for holding,

said sleeve stationary, and the ear projecting through a slot' inthe upper stick section below the runner sleeve. l

4. The combination with a vtubular'um- 105 brella stickA formed in lthree telescoping sections, and an oppositely and longitudinally slotted runner sleeve slidable4 on the upper `,and middle sections thereof, of spring latch dogs lapped and located in the upper stick 110 section, each dogliaving a latch hook on the upper end, a lu beloWvon the dog, and an ear below the lug t ereon, said hook, lug and'ear -on each dog normally projectinfr through slots in the upper stick section, eadhhook on' l115 a respective dog engaging the upper edge of' the ruimer sleeve, and the lugs simultan-ff ously entering the opposite slots in saidrun ner-sleeve, thus holding the sleeve stationary until released by pressure on the ears. '120 5, The combination with a-tubular unibrella stick .formed in three telescoping sections, the upper section having opposite longitudinal slots therein near its Alower end, of

Across-lapped spring dogs having ears' on their 125 lower ends that normally project through the. slots. into engagement .with the uppernend of the middle section of the stick, the said ring I dogs each having a` projecting toe ove the ear engaging inner surface l.of

l the upper section of the stick, the upper end of each spring dog being free and also engaging the inner. surface of said section of the stick, and a latch hook on the lower section of the stick, the hook nose of which passes through opposite slots in each stick section,

the ears and latch hook co-acting for holding directly to theother inge leaf, and having a` spi-ino' clasp thereon, said clasp clamping the latchimb when the rib sections are extended "in sequence, the said clip band being clamped yin position by thev pivot of the'hinge joint.

7. The combination with an upper :rib section 4and a lower rib section, of ahinge leaf secured on one of saidrsections near one end thereof, the free end of said rib section projecting longitudinally beyond the end ofV Hthe hinge leaf forming alatch limb, a-hinge 4 leaf on the mating-end of the other rib sec,- .Ztion,and hinged directly to the rst mentioned hinge leaf, a resilient U-shaped clasp on said hinge leaf having projecting portions that'approach each other, the said clasp receiving the latch limb and clampin upon it when the'rib sections -areextende a reinforcing clip band embracing the first mentioned hinge leaf at the hin ,e joint, and a stretcher rod having a hin e connection at one end with the hinge lea? on the upper rib section.

8. In a foldable umbrella frame, the coinbination With an upper U-sha ed rib member, of a hinge leaf one end of w ich is rigidl secured to the rib member near its lower en the extreme lower end of said rib member being flattened and forming a latch limb extending longitudinally beyond the end of said hinge leaf, alowei' or -matiiig U-shaped -rib member having a hinge -leaf rigidly secured to its upper end and havi Cf side meinbers extending beyond said en of the rib member, the projecting side members of said i A hinve leaf extending between side members -of thefirst mentioned hinge leaf at the-end thereof and being. pivoted directly thereto. a A

spring clasp on said hinge leaf and projecting" on .the side adjacent to' the latch limb when j the rib members.' are extended and adapted to receive and clamp the said latch limb,l the .latch limb overlap ing the end of the other 4 rib member when t 1e members are extended 60 and fitting in the channel thereof, and a clip band embracing the first mentioned hinge leaf at the joint Aand secured in position by the pivot of the hinge joint.

9. Iii-a foldable umbrella frame, theicoim- Y bination with two rib sections,ofa'liingey member secured on one of said sections adjacent to one end thereof, the end ofsaid rib section forming a latch limb extending Ilon` gitudiiially beyond the end of the hinge mem# ber, a hinge membersecured on one end of the other rib section, the end of -said hinge member fitting within the end portion ofthe other hin e member and pivoted thereto,

and a U- aped spring clasp on, said hinge75 member adapted`v to receive thei said latch limband clamp thesame when the rib sec-Y tions are extended, the latch limb on .the first mentioned rib section overlapping the end of the other rib section kwhen the sec-'8O vtions are in extended position.

10. In a foldable umbrella frametl ie.coin bination witha channeled rib'sect'ion having a hinge member secured onone end, anda lach 'iimb rojeeang beyond .the and of the 85 I hinge mem er, of a mating channeled rib section having a hinge member on one `end thereof pivoted directlyv to the other' hinge member' and having aclaspthereomgt e said claspcompi'ising oppositely"arranged 9 0 i spring jaws adapted to receive between them t ie said latch limb when the rib sections are extended, said jaws projecting at the channeled side of the rib section,- the space betweenthe jaws leading to the channel of said 954 rib section, the end of the latch limb overlapping the end of the said mating rib Asection and constructed to engageithe ,channel s of said rib section.

In testimony whereof Ihavefsigned my naine to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. y

` CARSON STONE.

Witnesses:

J.- L. RinDs'EL,

D.' H. HEDRICK. 

